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IDW’s Zombie Tale “The Other Dead” Optioned By Animal Planet

Zombies seem to do pretty well on cable TV when they look like people, but now Animal Planet is banking on undead furry friends for a new drama.

The cable network behind shows like “Meercat Manor” today announced that it has optioned “The Other Dead” -Â a zombie comic published by IDW and created by Joshua Ortega and Digger Mesch -Â for a new scripted drama series.

“The entire creative team could not be more excited about this partnership, and the timing for ‘The Other Dead’ series could not be more perfect,” said Ortega in a release at Channel Guide. “Zombie animal meets Animal Planet? Sounds like we have some serious undead fun ahead of us.”

“We’re rabid about bringing Josh and Digger’s bold, wry and unrelenting vision to life,” added Animal Planet VP of Development Kurt Tondorf. “Our stylistic and creative ambitions as a network happily found their echo in the pages of ‘The Other Dead.'”

First published last year, the series explores a world wracked by hurricanes and other natural disasters where undead animals rise and terrorize the population. Ortega spoke to CBR about the series and its inclusion of President Barack Obama at the time, saying, “As the story goes, a monstrous hurricane — even worse than Katrina — is about to hit southern Louisiana just as the Vice President is killed during an outbreak of a mysterious infection that’s turning all animals into ravenous, cold-blooded killers.

“Into this mix is thrown our eclectic cast of characters: Tommy Romero, a 10-year old cancer survivor who’s struggling with his faith and belief in life; Azrael, Tommy’s older brother and a member of the Norwegian-like death metal band, Decapitated; Justina Abelinda Cortez, Az’s girlfriend who’s an exotic dancer and a Puerto Rican bruja/witch; Chet Wayne, a racist ex-Army Ranger who’s been preparing for the apocalypse for years; and Barack Obama — yes, the actual president of the United States — who ends up in the eye of the storm, dealing not only with the hurricane but the zombie animal outbreak as well.”